The Telangana government recently approved a fare hike for TSRTC buses. Ordinary bus fares rose by ₹5 for the first three stages and ₹10 for each stage after that. Metro deluxe and e-metro AC services saw a ₹5 increase for the first stage and ₹10 for each following stage. This move aims to develop infrastructure and replace 2,800 diesel buses with electric vehicles. Opposition parties, including the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), criticized the hike. Passengers, especially students, are paying more due to increased bus pass prices. Over the years, passengers have faced gradual fare increases, including safety cess and fare rounding. TSRTC's city bus fleet has stayed mostly unchanged for a decade with just 2,927 buses. This is far lower than Bengaluru's 7,047 buses. The population share served by city buses dropped from 42% to 25%, while private vehicles quadrupled since 2011, adding over 1,500 new vehicles daily. The Mahalakshmi Scheme gives free rides to women and has increased bus occupancy to over 90%. This rise demands more buses, but the government needs to increase fleet size alongside replacing diesel buses with electric ones. TSRTC faces losses, especially in Hyderabad's Greater Zone, which impacts its financial health. Most city bus trips are on ordinary high-floor buses, raising accessibility issues for senior citizens and differently-abled passengers. Labour issues persist since a 52-day strike in 2019 by TSRTC workers. The government introduced a bill in 2023 to merge TSRTC with the state government. Although approved, the merger is not yet complete, and unions await recognition. Experts say public transport should prioritize service, not just profits. Boosting the fleet with reliable, affordable, and accessible buses can reduce traffic and pollution while restoring passenger trust.